BRADFORD Council's most senior officer discussed Ilkley's biggest issues during a top-level visit to the town.

But an overall solution to parking problems is said to be outside of the authority's budget.

The local authority's chief executive, Kersten England, met councillors Martin Smith and Anne Hawkesworth on her visit to the town on Friday to hear concerns about housebuilding allocations, planning, school places, parking and other issues.

She was joined by the council's assistant director of planning, transportation and highways, Julian Jackson.

Councillors learned the Core Strategy consultation, based on a Government planning inspector's initial comments, may start this month, with responses being considered and proposals discussed in council in April 2016.

Commuter and general parking shortfalls were high on the agenda, with a focus on commuter and general parking shortfalls due to people from outside the area travelling into Ilkley to use Metro trains.

A possible park and ride at Addingham, improvements to car parking at the stations and within Ilkley were among the suggestions.

But councillors heard transport issues would need support from other partners of Metro and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Reporting back to Ilkley Parish Council on Monday night, Cllr Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said: "The parking is too large a problem to cover for the whole of Ilkley within the Bradford highways budget. It will be something that will have to go through the joint authorities."

The proposed new Tesco site scheme – including parking provision, the amount of affordable housing, the need for another hotel, office block or care home – was also discussed.

The future of buildings including Ilkley Town Hall, Ilkley Library, the Winter Garden and King's Hall, as well as Manor House, were debated. Councillors also expressed concerns about 'ham fisted' proposed works to Ilkley Old Bridge

Cllr Smith and Cllr Hawkesworth said they await detailed response on the future work.

"We also raised the lack of local knowledge in considering planning applications, such as those at Craiglands, where parking at present is causing great concern to residents in the vicinity," added Cllr Smith.

"We discussed, on the planning side, the need for 42,000 homes for Bradford, including Ilkley’s allocation, and that affordable homes in Ilkley were too high for lower paid workers to purchase and this was unbalancing the community."

Shortage of school places at Ilkley Grammar and the need to consider provision in Menston or Guiseley were debated.

Cllr Smith added: "It was a fast moving general discussion. Officers were left in no doubt of our concerns for our town and residents, but they listened and contributed to the debate and we shall keep reminding them there is a large population in Ilkley who need considering not ignoring."